Former Goa CM, cabinet minister involved in mining scam: Parrikar

Panaji: Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Monday said that a former Congress chief minister and a cabinet minister were involved in illegal mining in the state and would soon be penalised.

"All Congress leaders from (former chief minister) Digambar (Kamat) to (former minister) Joaquim (Alemao) are involved in illegal mining and their names will come out soon," Parrikar told reporters during his government`s reach-out campaign that started last week.

Parrikar added that those named in the illegal mining scam would be penalised soon.

The BJP, during its stint in the opposition had openly named several top Congress officials, claiming they were party to a Rs 25,000-crore illegal mining scam.

Parrikar also warned of tough action against those found involved in illegal mining in Goa.

"All the people will be taken to task if there is clear evidence against them. No one will be spared. But that doesn`t mean there would be arrests just like that. We will produce documentary evidence and chargesheet them, then let the courts decide," Parrikar said.

Mining in Goa has been banned by the Supreme Court of India, which is hearing a public interest litigation on illegal mining in the state.